Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - My Sweet Girl

This review is going to be all over the place because I have mixed feelings about this book. Earlier this year I was trying to rekindle my love for thrillers by reading ones that are written by diverse authors. Jayatissa is Sri Lankan, and the incorporation of a ghost from Sri Lankan folklore added another layer to Paloma's story (and her unreliable narration). While there wasn't a ton of time for nuance, I did like certain aspects of the adoption narrative, such as Paloma's rejection of her heritage, her adoptive parents' obvious white savior complex, and the microaggressions she faced while living in San Francisco.

I can't rate this super highly due to the many plot holes, and the pacing really dragged at points. You also have to have a high tolerance for rudeness to enjoy Paloma's thoughts on, well, everyone in her life. But if you like gory, dark, tense thrillers, you'll probably enjoy this unique spin on the "I discovered my roommate's dead body and the cops don't believe me" premise.

I do love the kind of thriller ending where the "bad guy" gets away with it.

I'm also giving Jayatissa some grace because it's a debut novel and putting her next book on my TBR!

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tammyanntchou's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No

4.25

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oddet_drizwald's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

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allapaz's review against another edition

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2.0

by far the most unlikeable, unreliable main character I've ever read, and I can't figure out why she had to be so unlikeable. Usually the 'troubled, hot mess MC' trope is fine for me, but there's at least some redeeming quality but Paloma's out here dropping the f-bomb every 3 sentences and passing out once per chapter. Twists were twisty, sure, but the 'big one' was pretty clear from the get go. This clearly had a lot to say about international adoption and identity and abuse, poverty, xenophobia, etc., I just wish that weren't so overshadowed by all the other drama

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